Thursday, May 29, 2008

Iraq War Protester Threatened with Deporattion From Canada

Hello,
I got this message and action alert from United for Peace & Justice
(UFPJ). The Iraq war resister is from Fairmont, Indiana, 70 miles East
of Lafayette. He has been ordered to leave Canada, where he was
seeking to live after refusing to go back to Iraq. Please take
action. Sheila

War Resister Corey Glass loses bid to stay in Canada
First Iraq War veteran to face deportation

Courage to Resist
May 21, 2008

US Iraq war resister Corey Glass was told May 21 that his application
to stay in Canada for "humanitarian and compassionate" reasons has
been rejected. He has been ordered to leave Canada by June 12. If this
order is allowed to stand, Corey will be the first Iraq War resister
to be deported from Canada.
Please take action now!

Sign the "Dear Canada: Let U.S. War Resisters Stay!" letter. Courage
to Resist will immediately send three letters to Canadian officials on
your behalf via International First Class Mail.
http://www.couraget oresist.org/canada

Call Canadian Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion at 613.996.6740 or 613.996.5789
• to support the Parliamentary motion to allow Iraq War resisters to
remain in Canada,
• to oppose the deportation of people of conscience who have resisted
an illegal war, and
• to support the will of the majority of people, not the U.S.
government's endless war agenda. (Polls show that 64% of Ontarians
believe resisters should be allowed to stay.)

Be on the lookout for a national day of vigils and actions at Canadian
consulates nationwide if Corey is deported.

Corey Glass, 25, of Fairmount, Indiana went to Canada in August 2006
after serving five months in Iraq as a Military Intelligence Sergeant.
"What I saw in Iraq convinced me that the war is illegal and immoral.
I could not in good conscience continue to take part in it," said
Corey. "I came here because Canada did not join the Iraq War."

On December 6, 2007, with Courage to Resist organizers in attendance,
the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration called on the
Canadian Government to "immediately implement a program to allow
conscientious objectors and their immediate family members to apply
for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and the government
should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions against
such individuals."

It is estimated that several hundred Iraq War resisters are currently
in Canada, many of them living underground.

"The Government should implement that recommendation immediately,"
said author Lawrence Hill. "Corey Glass had the courage to listen to
his conscience. He is working hard to build a new life in this
country. He should be allowed to stay."

With political refugee status attempts rejected by the Canadian
Supreme Court last year, Corey appealed to be allowed to immigrate to
Canada for "Humanitarian and Compassionate" reasons. All of the war
resisters who have already been rejected as refugees have applied for
this status.

"Many had hoped that the Canadian government might find this avenue as
a face-saving measure that would allow some war resisters to remain in
Canada,but not as refugees," said Gerry Condon, Project Safe Haven.

Gerry Condon concluded, "The prognosis is that the status of U.S. war
resisters in Canada will become more difficult. AWOL GI's will still
be able to enter Canada as visitors and apply for refugee status.
Because each case is reviewed individually, this will gain them a de
facto sanctuary, however temporary."

It's critical that supporters of GI resistance here in the U.S. get
ready to step up our efforts. It's inevitable that at least some of
our U.S. war resisters in Canada will be coming home soon. They will
be facing court martials and confinement, and what we do in response
will effect these people's lives, and the momentum of the GI
resistance movement.

With contribution and content from the War Resisters Support Campaign
(Canada) http://www.resister s.ca

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